RACING:BIG ZEB followed in the footsteps of the peerless two-mile champion Moscow Flyer at Cheltenham last March and he did the same with an impressive return to action in yesterday's Fortria Chase at Navan.
Moscow Flyer won the Grade Two for a couple of years running (2003-04) and Big Zeb managed the same with a convincing defeat of his old rival Golden Silver and the 25 to 1 outsider Carthalawn.
That was more than enough for Colm Murphy’s star to retain his place at the top of ante-post betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Murphy suspects Big Zeb could be an even more formidable proposition this term.
“He is definitely a stronger horse and he’s a lot more mature mentally. The penny seems to have dropped with him and he’s settling better. He has grown up,” he said.
“Barry (Geraghty) has done a fair bit of schooling with him and they have confidence in one another.”
The common denominator Big Zeb has with the old champion is his jockey and Geraghty’s ability to instil that confidence in his horses was proved yet again with a sixth Fortria success yesterday.
“He jumped great and he settled better, which was good to see,” said Geraghty.
“He destroyed Made In Taipan here last year so you can’t say he’s getting better. But much the same will do!”
Hidden Cyclone earned Cheltenham quotes too after maintaining his unbeaten record in style in the Grade Three For Auction Novice Hurdle.
Geraghty was unseated on the flat from Meitheamh in this race and Prima Vista fell at the third but there was still an authority to Hidden Cyclone’s six-length success that means he will be a major player in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One back at Navan next month.
“It would have been nice if some of the opposition had stood up but there’s nothing we could do about that. When he gets two and a half he’ll be much better,” said trainer, “Shark” Hanlon.
Local trainer Noel Meade had a luckless afternoon as Prima Vista was his third runner to hit the deck yesterday.
Jetson was brought down in the maiden hurdle won by Geraghty’s mount Our Girl Salley, putting Paul Carberry on the sidelines with a bruised foot in the process, and Aitmatov was still leading when crashing out at the last in the Lismullen Hurdle.
Oscar Dan Dan took advantage to win and will now attempt back-to-back victories in the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in three weeks’ time.
“He ran well for a first start in seven months and Paul (Townend) felt he had Aitmatov anyway,” said Tom Mullins.
“I hope this won’t take too much out of him and he’ll go for the Hatton’s Grace.”
A mistake at the last by Lucky William handed the Beginners Chase initiative to the pace-setting Saludos, who continued Jessica Harrington’s good form, while Gordon Elliott completed a double with Cayo Levantado in the handicap hurdle and Eight Is My Number in the bumper.
Walsh facing lengthy lay-off after breaking his leg
CHAMPION JOCKEY Ruby Walsh underwent surgery on his broken leg at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday but faces a lengthy period on the sidelines after his dramatic fall at Down Royal on Saturday, writes Brian O’Connor.
After riding a big race double on Kauto Star and The Nightingale, Walsh broke his tibia and fibula in his right leg when taking a fall from Corrick Bridge in the handicap chase. He was rushed to hospital in Belfast and underwent surgery yesterday morning which his sister and agent, Jennifer, reported went well.
“He is out of surgery and doing well. They were happy with how it went but we’ll know more tomorrow,” she said.
“At the moment we’re thinking every day is a day closer to when he can come back but we don’t know when that will be. With a broken leg it could be six weeks or three months. We don’t know. But I’ll be talking to him tomorrow and we’ll know more,” she added.
Walsh only returned to action in August after breaking his arm from Celestial Halo in a fall in the Aintree Hurdle at Liverpool on Grand National day in April.
A mandatory 6lb penalty for winning at Thurles on Thursday doesn’t look nearly enough to stop Wicklow Lad having a first rate chance of a quick follow-up in today’s handicap chase at Limerick where a precautionary inspection (8.30am) is planned due to an adverse forecast.
The Francis Flood-trained six year old bounded clear of Tawriffic Laois over two and a quarter miles last week and had the race in safe keeping long before the last. A slight increase in trip shouldn’t be any issue to Wicklow Lad.
Bad weather may not be to everyone’s taste today but soft ground conditions would suit Oh Johnny in the handicap hurdle, while his jockey Paul Townend can also score on Some Target in the Beginners Chase.
Staying Article was an impressive 14-length winner of a bumper at Punchestown last month and looks the one to beat in the second maiden hurdle.
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